Back in March 2016 The Maine Valley Post carried a story on the upwardly spiralling career of Castleisland native, New York based ‘Star Dresser’ Edward ‘Eddie’ O’Sullivan – the ‘Boy from Barrack Street’ who left Castleisland in 1990 and became a fashion icon in New York.
This week the terribly sad news of 52 year old Eddie’s unexpected death in New York filtered through and his loss has been verbalised by many of the stars he worked with and helped – such was his generous and kind nature.
The the 1910 founded Women’s Wear Daily or WWD news service, regarded as the bible of fashion, said: ” O’Sullivan’s contact list was a who’s who of celebrities and fashion players.”
The report in 2016 was accompanied by a photograph of Eddie with Cate Blanchett and the dress he designed for her which had fashion writers drooling at the Oscars of that year.
Like leaves in a breeze, the leading fashion magazines have been following the spiralling career of fashion designer, personal shopper and dresser to the stars, Edward O’Sullivan.
The Barrack Street, Castleisland native was a behind-the-scenes presence at the Oscars awards and was indeed credited with dressing Cate Blanchett – who wowed those same fashion writers and magazines with a look which Eddie had a big say in putting together.
Two Pairs of Pants and a Sweater
In the course of an interview with The Irish Times in June of 2000 he told the paper that he arrived in JFK Airport 10 years previously with two pairs of pants and a sweater. I certainly didn’t own a Prada suit, and now look at me!” he invited.
Eddie was the personal shopper at Prada on Fifth Avenue in New York, a role that saw him dressing stars such as: Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Leonardo di Caprio and Kevin Bacon. If you see paparazzi shots of Tom Cruise wearing a sharp Prada suit to a premiere, that’s Edward’s work. Catherine Zeta Jones at an award ceremony, Uma Thurman at the Oscars, they’ve all been to see Edward.
New York Times Style Section
“Such is his renown, the New York Times style section recently ran a piece describing Edward’s own personal style, and the particular way he wears an Ascot tie. Not bad work for a boy from Castleisland, Co Kerry.
“When I tell people at home that I work in Prada, they think it’s a bar,” laughs O’Sullivan, chatting in between clients from New York. “People don’t really understand exactly what I do. I think they think I work in the equivalent of Dunnes for $5 an hour.” It’s understandable, because there is no real equivalent to the New York-style personal shopper here in Ireland,’ he told ‘The Times’ back then.
Artistic Brother on Barrack Street
Eddie’s equally talented sister, Mary Owens was a designer on the set of Sesame Street at the time we compiled the report with the help of Jill Hannon.
Mary recalled her eclectic upbringing on Barrack Street with Eddie as an artistic brother.
“My early days were full of fun and adventure. First in my house with my very creative family, with my brother Ed buying up early fashion magazines from Griffin’s.
Always Drawing and Designing
“He was always drawing and designing outfits. His room walls were a shrine with photos of models and pop stars,” Mary told The Maine Valley Post back then.
As The Irish Times report quipped all those years ago: “Not bad work for a boy from Castleisland, Co Kerry.”
With thanks to Mary Owens in New York and Jill Hannon in Castleisland.
With sincere condolences to Eddie’s mom Josephine and sisters: Mary, Helen, Jo and Denise.
For more on Eddie’s incredible career and tragic death you can click on the Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) online news service link: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/obituary-edward-osullivan-celebrity-stylist-dies-at-1235639212/
You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.
